Balmain EnerPHit
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House Notes – Balmain EnerPHit
The main outcome of the build was to create a comfortable, healthy home with minimal ongoing energy costs and generate energy with Solar PV.
The site is a small block in Balmain – 101.2m2 with a FSR of 1:1. We wanted to add a 3rd floor with a Master bedroom for the city views. The ground floor living area, dining and kitchen was to have internal walls removed to provide a better flow so the family could entertain and prepare food whilst being able to see the children playing in the garden or living room. The office was to be tucked away in a kitchen cupboard that in the future could be used as a pantry.
On the First Floor a multi-purpose room/bedroom/guest was needed at the front for a home salon. This level was to include a Japanese style main bathroom with a cedar bathtub in a ‘wet room’ and a second bedroom with privacy from neighbours.
As the house is on a bus route reducing noise from traffic was essential. The backyard was to be modernised with a Japanese style garden for viewing from the sitting area inside.
Remediating the mould and damp issues was desperately needed for the house to be healthy to live in. All finishes needed to be low or zero VOC with E0 Laminex boards for joinery. A heat recovery ventilation system needed to be incorporated.
All of this while trying to keep a low carbon footprint and Passivhaus EnerPHIT certification.
Sustainability Features
- Energy efficiency:
- Draught proofing
Efficient lighting
Energy monitoring
- Passive heating cooling:
- Cross ventilation
Heat recovery ventilation system
Shading
- Active heating cooling:
- Split system airconditioner
- Water heating:
- Hot water heat pump
- Water harvesting and saving features:
- Low flow shower heads
- Average water consumption per day:
- 141
- Energy Efficient Lighting
- LED lights throughout
Natural daylight
- Window Protection:
- Blinds
Eaves
External window hoods/surrounds
- Recycled and reused materials:
- Rammed earth wall made from recycled concrete from local Boral site.
- Sustainable materials:
- Certified EnerPHit Plus - reuse of Sanden heat pump, all demolition masonry and glass direct to recycling facilities. Stiebel Electron VRC180 HRV system installed for fresh filtered air. Laminex board for joinery for E0. All internal wood fibre lime rendered and painted with Keim mineral silicate paints. All timber FCS certified. Boral Envisia concrete used.
- Insulation Type:
- Ceiling
External walls
- Ceiling Type:
- Bulk – glass wool
- External Walls Rating:
- 3.9
- External Walls Type:
- Wood fibre - Steico 60mm to internal side of existing 230mm brickwork and external side of 90mm stud work with R2.7SHD Earthwool batts
- All-Electric Home?
- Yes
- Renewable energy used:
- Solar PV grid connect
- Size of PV system:
- 7.65
- Average Daily Energy Consumption:
- 4
- Estimate of annual savings:
- 4000
- House Size
- 118
- BAL Rating
- No BAL rating requirements at time of construction
- Roof
- Metal (Colorbond)
- Wall Materials
- Double brick
Lightweight construction (timber frame)
Rammed earth
- Wall Materials
- Woodfibre insulation - internal to existing 230mm brickwork and external to new 90mm stud walls
- Window and Door Types
- Double glazing
Retrofit Double Glazing
Tilt and turn
- Window and Door Types
- Lift and slide
- Universal design accessability
- Adaptive design
- Universal Design Features
- 80cm minimum door opening width
Lever handles for doors (no knobs)
No Corner cupboards
Rocker style light switches
Shower head on rail for various heights
- Number of bedrooms
- 3
- Number of bathrooms
- 2
- Garden / Outdoors
- Composting
- Waste Reduction Practices:
- Compost all food scraps
Recycle
Repair
Waste free/reduced construction site
- Healthy home features
- Airtight house design
Automated ventilation system
Cabinet design to minimise dust collection
Carpet free - tiles/concrete/timber flooring throughout
Chemical free cleaning products used
Cross flow ventilation
Formaldehyde free cabinets
Heat recovery ventilation (HRV)
Lime render/wash
Low VOC paints/sealer/varnish
Natural light and ventilation
Natural oil sealer/finishes
VOC free paints/sealer/varnish
- Housing Type:
- Semi
- Project Type:
- Retrofit/addition
- Builder
- Sowden Building Solutions
- Designer
- Tracy Graham from Connected Design
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